SILVER CITY — Four two quarters the Silver High football team was doing everything in its power to hang with Hatch Valley High School – the defending Class 4A champs. But, the Bears were able to pull away in the third quarter en route to a 44-7 win Friday night in Silver City.

“Hatch is a very good football team,” head coach Raul Diaz said. “We were able to stay with them up until they started using that single wing. Once they use that they are on a different level.”

The Colt’s defense was steady early. It took nearly a whole quarter for Hatch to find the end zone. Saul Trujillo scampered in from 26 yards out on a pitch play. Trujillo also booted the extra point and the Bears led, 7-0, with 1 minute, 7 seconds to play in the first.

Penalties helped Hatch get on the scoreboard for the second time. A roughing the kicker penalty added new life to Hatch’s drive in an automatic first down. Later an encroachment penalty by Silver gave the Bears another first down. Trujillo would get the ball inside the 5 yard line and then quarterback Cooper Carson snuck it in from 1 yard out. Hatch led, 14-0, after the Trujillo extra point, with 5:13 to play in the half.

Things turned for the worse in the third quarter for Silver. The Colts lost Chance Porter to a knee injury and then Hatch got a safety to put the game at 16-0. On the ensuing possession, Carson found the end zone to put the Bears up, 23-0.

Hatch added another score in the fourth, before Silver finally got on the scoreboard. Joe Hanson tallied a 22-yard scamper and after Carson Casey’s extra point, the Colts were down, 30-7, with 4:34 to play in the game.

Silver would attempt an onside kick and fail, but that gave Hatch good field position. Trujillo then broke loose from 50 yards out and Hatch would lead, 37-7. The Bears then added a late touchdown to close out the game, 44-7.

“We know what we have to do this week to get ready for Socorro,” Diaz said. “We will get back to work and go into Socorro ready to get a victory and get a chance to get into the playoffs.”